DECEMBER MEETING, 1925

    A Stated Meeting of the Society was held at the house of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, No. 28 Newbury Street, Boston, on Thursday, December 17, 1925, at three o’clock in the afternoon, the President, Samuel Eliot Morison, Ph.D., in the chair.

    The Records of the last Stated Meeting were read and approved.

    The President announced that by vote of the Council he had been empowered to appoint delegates from the Society to the annual Conference of Historical Societies to be held in Ann Arbor this month in connection with the meeting of the American Historical Association, and that these delegates would be appointed in due course.

    In response to an invitation from the Council, Mr. Henry Crocker Kittredge, of Concord, New Hampshire, was present, and read a paper on “The Merchant Marine of Cape Cod,” in which he discussed the marine activities of the Cape, aside from fishing and whaling, with special reference to the Cape Cod packets, and to the achievements of certain Cape Cod captains in command of clipper ships.

    Mr. Harold Murdock read the following letter, written from Boston, July 27, 1775, by H. F. Gardner, a British officer then in Boston, to John Radcliffe, of Hitchin Priory, Hertfordshire, England.

    Boston Wednesday July 27th 1775.

    Dear Radcliffe541

    I have wrote twice to you since my arrival in America — my first Letter was dated the 14th June which I sent by a vessel bound to Bristol, the other by the return of the Cerberus Frigate, and dated the 25th dº.

    Nothing material has happened about this place since General Howes expedition to Charles Town, where he remains with a Corps of abt 2000 men, except that the last embarkation from Ireland viz 22d 40” 44” and 45” Regiments desined [designed?, destined?] for New York, have been ordered by General Gage into Boston — the last of their Transports arrived here last week and were above ten Weeks on their passage — the men are all in tollerable health

    General Burgoyne has received a Long Letter from General Lee, Copys of Which I make no doubt have been seen in England long before youll receive this Letter. — however for yourself & friends amusement I have here inclosed it together with General Burgoynes Answer — which is very highly talked of by Well affected people on this side of the Atlantic, and I hope will do him as mush [much] Credit on Yours. The two Letters I had for Genl Lee — have sent to him,542 and wish they may contain some good Advice, tho’ I’m afraid ’tis too late considering the active part that he has taken in public affairs, to be a means of making any Alterations in his Conduct. The place where Lee dates his last Letter from viz Cambridge is about three miles from Boston, and where he commands a part of the Rebel Army. He has often been seen by many of us, but not wihin [within] the reach of a Musket I can promise you when that happens — he will be particularly noticed, as there is not a Soldier or Officer in the Garrison, and especially his old Regiment (44th) but woud be happy to get a Shot at Him.

    The Rebels (and almost in a continu’d Camp) surround us — And I assure you are very strongly Intrenched besides having Redoubts on all the heights which command Roads &c with good ditches they are well friezed, and most of ’em have Cannon in them — However every Manauvre of theirs, seems to be upon the defensive.

    In this situation you will agree with me that it woud be imprudent to move out in the teeth of them, as our Loss must inevitably be greater than our little Army can at present afford — & we must not now run Risks — besides we have not above 114 horses for all our Artillery, and if we make expeditions which I think will be necessary, and in which Case the Army will be divided, 114 horses will not serve more than 12 or 14 pieces of Cannon.

    We are very much in want of forage. What in heavens, were some folks about all the last Year, when a very plentiful & Cheap Country with all sorts of Cattle and forage (’till the affair of the nineteenth of April last) was open to them, I suppose they were afraid of laying up Magazines openly — tho’ at the very same time the Heads of these Rebels were actually drilling their men on Boston Common, and in the face of our Encampment; Nay they carried their impudence so far as to exercise them by Candle Light in their public Halls &c.

    I pity the three Generals viz Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne, who (if I’ve any discernment are not in that Active Capacity they woud wish & which nature intended ’em for. Men possessed of such military Talents shoud not be controll’d

    The Army, I will assure you are determin’d to a man to Assist the Cause — we have no desertions which is the strongest proof I can give you of their Attachment — And if you Parliament Gentlemen do not tamely submit I am persuaded (as I’ve before mentioned) a large body of Russian[s]543 early next year, and have proper people to negociate with the Canadians who by the bye the Yankeys are more afraid of than the Devil, One well conducted campaign woud finish the Dispute — and tis too Obvious notwithstanding all their Damned Pamplets [pamphlets] &c. upon the subject that they do not wish to reconcile matter[s] till absolutely forced. We have yet many many friends left about N: York, who are Obliged to bear Arms amongst the Rebels, for want of a proper force to protect them. I’m surprised the Army is not there; as its certainly a properer place to begin the Campaign from, than Boston.

    We have taken all the precaution we can in this place to prevent a surprise — & if we remain here the Winter, we have nothing to dread but being starved, either for the want of Fewel or salt pork. I have often wished for a good flock of the Priory Sheep.544

    Pray my Respects to Lady Frances and all acquaintances, particularly to my friend Sir Charles, & Family545 — I must intreat you to write to me, — English news, woud be as acceptable as fresh Provisions — you know I love good eating [(] aye and drinking) you may judge how we live when I yesterday with the greatest difficulty, bought four old fowls for £1∙∙ 11∙∙ 6 —

    This is the time of year for fluxes, & the Army for want of fresh meat are very weak — besides upon exact lists after the affair of 17th June no less than 1049 men & Officers were killed and wounded.546

    Boston is the only port in America shut up whereas, it is (in the present situation) the only port that shoud be open, I wish you’d think of this, we shoud then stand a chance of having provision brough[t] to us — Send your Letter to Lady Charlotte Burgoyne if you favor me with one, & beg She will inclose it in her first packet for the Genl. I’m afraid you’ll scarce read this Sheet, as I’m fearful of being too Late for the vessel

    Adieu and beleive me to be

    Dear Radcliffe your sincere Friend

    And Obliged humble Servant

    H. ff. Gardner.

    Mr. Albert Matthews spoke as follows:

    Three years ago, in a footnote to Ephraim Eliot’s sketch of Dr. Amos Windship of the Harvard class of 1771, I called attention to the statement in the Faculty Records that Windship’s place of residence at entrance was given as “Springf. Suff.” I interpreted that to mean Springfield, Suffolk County; and as Windship had been living in Sherborn the year before his entrance, it occurred to me that perhaps some part of Sherborn had at one time been locally known as Springfield. Mr. William B. H. Dowse, however, told me that, so far as he knew, such had not been the case; and so I was obliged to confess that “precisely what town is meant by ‘Springf. Suff.’ as the place of residence is uncertain.”547 A few days ago I stumbled on the explanation of what had puzzled me, and for the benefit of some future investigator put it on record. In 1738 the Rev. Samuel Dexter of Dedham published his “Century Sermon,”548 of which a second edition appeared in 1796. In this edition a “Supplement” of three pages was added, where we read: “A fourth precinct was incorporated, in the westerly part of the town of Dedham, November 18th 1748; and commonly known by the name of Springfield.549 In 1784 this was established as the district of Dover, and in 1836 as the town of Dover.550 Dover and Sherborn adjoin one another.